Foldable pole-climber.



E. L RANNEY.

FOLDABLE POLE CLIMBER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. 1915.

1,174,347. Patented Mar. 7,1916.

THE COLUMBIA PLA muRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, n, C.

EUGENE L. RANNEY, OF LANESBOBO, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDAIBLE POLE-CLIMBEB;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

Application filed May 25, 1915. Serial No. 30,431.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE L. RANNEY, citizen of the United States, residing at vLanesboro, in the county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have lnvented cerprovide a pole climber of the class above described in which the pole engaging element is automatically withdrawn from operative position prior to the folding of the device.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a pole climber having the pole engaging element foldable so that the user will not be hampered in wearing the device when walking.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a pole climber comprising a pair of permanently engaged relatively movable collapsible parts, one of the parts having foot engaging means thereon and the relatively movable portions thereof forming a leg engaging part.

With the above and other objects in view my invention resides preferably in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved pole climber, showing the same in setup position. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. Bis a similar view showing the sections in position for folding. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of my invention showing the same folded. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the invention inset-up position, parts thereof being omitted. Fig. Bis a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrow.

Similar reference characters indicate similar parts throughout the various views of the drawing.

My invention consists broadly of two component parts, these parts being permanently and slidably engaged and comprising a plurality of hinged sections, the hinged portions thereof being capable of alinement to facilitate folding of the device and withdrawal of the pole or post engaging member.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, I have provided a part designated generally by theletter A which comprises preferably three hinged sections designated 2, 3 and 4, these sections being hinged at the points 5 and 6 respectively. One of the sections, namely 2, is formed with a foot engaging portion 7 having a loop 8 thereon to facilitate the securement, by means of a flexible band, strap, or the like, to the foot of the user.

band, or the like which is adapted to encircle the leg of the user.

The other of the component parts of my invention is designated by the letter B and comprises preferably three sections 10, 11, and 12, said sections being hinged at the points 18 and 1 1 respectively. The sections 10, 11' and 12 are permanently engaged with, but relatively movable to, the sections 2, 3, and 4:, the sections 2 and 10 being retained in engagement by means of a screw or the like 15 which is receivable in and movable throughout an elongated aperture 16 formed in the section 10, it being of course understood that the screw 15 is carried by the section 2. The remaining sections, namely, 3, 4t, 11 and 12 are respectively in engagement by virtue of tongue and groove portions formed on the sections, the tongues being substantially of the dovetail type designated 17 and 18 and formed on the sides of the sections 3 and 4. The sections 11 and 12 are complementally formed with dovetail grooves 19'and 20 adapted for engagement with and slidable engagement upon the dovetail tongues 17 and 18. I

Suitable means, in the present instance, comprising a ring 21, may be provided for operating the parts A. and B. to cause their relative movement for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. It will be readily understood that the tongues, and the grooves engage snugly so that the parts A and B The section 4: is likewise provided with a loop 9 for reception of a strap,

as a leg brace, or similar applications.

when moved to a desired position will remain in the position by virtue of their frictional engagement although means may be provided for positively retaining the parts in set position.

A suitable shoulder 22 is provided on the section 2 and the section 10 i cut away as at 23 for reception of the shoulder, said shoulder 22 forming a stop or limiting means when moving the parts A and B into the locking position. The section 10 is likewise provided with a shoulder 22 for engagement on a beveled edge 23 formed on the section 2. It will be assumed that the parts A and B are in the position shown in Fig. 2. The pole engaging member of my invention comprises preferably a spur or prong 24 having a sharpened extremity 25 and being pivotally mounted in an opening 26 formed in the foot engaging member 2, pivoted upon a pin 27, and projecting through an aperture 28 formed in the section 10. It will be noted that the prong 2st is preferably curved in a downward direction.

In use the sections A and B are moved to the position shown in Fig. 2' wherein the hinges 5, 6, 13 and let are out of alinement. This locks the sections of the parts A and B ina rigid position and prevents the folding of the same. Simultaneously the prong 24 by virtue of its engagement with the section 10 through the opening 28 is moved into operative position as shown to advantage in Figs. 1 and 5. The device is the-n strapped to the foot and leg of the user to facilitate climbing. lVhen the user is walking, it is often found desirable to remove the pole engaging members for operative position owing to the fact that the same may accidentally engage the trousers of the user causing tearing and the like mutilation of the same, as well as possible injury to the user. In order to accomplish this in my invention, the sections A and B are moved to the position shown in Fig. 3. This automatically withdraws the prong or spur 24: from operative position into the position shown to advantage in Fig. 4. Should it be desired to fold the device the same is removed from the users leg and collapsed into the form shown in Fig. 4, the section 3 folding upon the section 2 and the section a folding upon the foot engaging portion 7 From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, use, and advantages of my invention may be readily gathered. It will be noted that the application of the device to the use mentioned is not imperative, since the same may be modified so as to facilitate wearing of the device It will be noted that the principal feature of the invention resides in the peculiar manner in which the same is foldable as well as the manner in which the sections serve to lock each other in rigid set up position, at the same time automatically moving the prong or spur 24 into the operative position.

While I have shown and described my invention as possessing a peculiar form and. constr iction, it is desired that it be understood that I may make such changes in the details thereof that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent is:

1. A post climber, including foot and leg engaging portions, the latter being foldable to occupy a minimum amount of space when not in use.

2. A post climber, including foot and leg engaging portions, the latter being rigid when in, an operative position to brace the leg, said leg engaging portion being foldaole to occupy a minimum amount of space when in an inoperative position.

3. A post climber, including foot and leg engaging portions, the latter. being foldable to occupy a minimum amount of space when not in use, and a post engageable member associated with the foot engaging portion and automaticallymovable out of post engaging position by folding the leg engaging portion, and into post engaging position when the leg engaging portion is set up.

4:. A post climber, including foot and leg engaging portions, the latter being formed of relatively movable parts comprising hinged sections for facilitating folding of the device to occupy a minimum amount of space.

5. A post climber, including foot and leg engaging portions, the latter comprising relatively movable sectional parts complementally hinged for folding, and a post engageable member carried by one of the relatively movable parts and movable by the other of said parts into and out of operative position.

6. A post climber, including foot and leg engaging portions, the latter being foldable and comprising a pair of relatively movable sectional parts, said parts being movable for locking position when set up, and a post engageable member collapsible by the movement of said relatively movable parts to withdraw the same from operative position.

7. A post climber, including foot and leg engaging portions, the latter being formed of two relatively movable parts and foldable, said parts being rigid in set up position, a post engaging prong pivotally mounted on one of said parts and operable by the relative movement of said parts, and means for limiting the relative movement of said parts to facilitate locking and unlocking of the same.

8. A post climber, including a foot engag- In testimony whereof I afix my signature ing portion, a foldable leg engaging portion, in presence of two Witnesses. and. a post engaging member automatically EUGENE L. RANNEY. movable into and out of post engaging posi- Witnesses: 5 tion When the leg is set up or when the same S. S. F. DODD,

is folded. EDWARD T. SoULLY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents;

Washington, D. C. 

